Boodle's is a
gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a private social club of a type originally established by males from Britain's upper classes starting in the 17th century.
Many countries outside Britain have prominent gentlemen's clubs, mostly those associated with the ...
in
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England, with its clubhouse located at 28
St James's Street
St James's Street is the principal street in the district of St James's, central London. It runs from Piccadilly downhill to St James's Palace and Pall Mall. The main gatehouse of the Palace is at the southern end of the road; in the 17th centu ...
. Founded in January 1762 by
Lord Shelburne
William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (2 May 17377 May 1805), known as the Earl of Shelburne between 1761 and 1784, by which title he is generally known to history, was an Anglo-Irish Whig statesman who was the first home secr ...
, who later became
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister Advice (constitutional law), advises the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign on the exercise of much of the Royal prerogative ...
and then 1st
Marquess of Lansdowne, it is the second oldest private members' club in London and in the world.
History
The club was originally based next door to
William Almack's tavern (which was situated at 49
Pall Mall in the
St James's
St James's is a district of Westminster, and a central district in the City of Westminster, London, forming part of the West End of London, West End. The area was once part of the northwestern gardens and parks of St. James's Palace and much of ...
district of London), in a house also run by him; the club therefore was known as
Almack's. It appears to have been formed in opposition to
White's
White's is a gentlemen's club in St James's, London. Founded in 1693 as a hot chocolate shop in Mayfair, it is London's oldest club and therefore the oldest private members' club in the world. It moved to its current premises on St James's St ...
(then often called Arthur's) – rule 12 as originally drafted forbade any member of Almack's from membership of any other London club, 'nor of what is at present called Arthur's or by whatever Name that Society or Club may be afterwards called, neither of new or old club or any other belonging to it'. In February 1763 this rule was altered and made even more emphatic – 'If any Member of this Society becomes a Member of Arthur's or a Candidate for Arthur's, he is of Course struck out of this Society.' The record book of the new society was kept by Almack as a statement of the terms on which he agreed to provide for the social needs of the members, and it has survived amongst the records of Boodle's.
The first entry, dated 1 January 1762, states that 'William Almack has taken the large new House West of his now dwelling House in Pall Mall for the sole use of a Society Established upon the following Rules.' Until 10 February 1762 membership was to be open to anyone signing his name in the book; thereafter election was to be by ballot, which was always to be held 'in Parliament Time' and one black ball excluded; the total membership was to be limited to 250. After 10 February the members were to appoint thirteen managers, 'each of whom are to have a power to keep order and make the Rules of the Society to be observed'; they were to serve for one year and then each manager was 'to appoint a Successor for the ensuing Year'. The rules of the society could be changed only by the unanimous vote of at least thirty members.
Eighty-eight gentlemen, none of whom appears to have been a member of White's, paid subscriptions for 1762, and the appointment of thirteen managers for the period February 1763 to February 1764 is recorded.
In March 1764 this club appears to have been superseded by or to have divided itself into two separate societies. The reason for this rearrangement is not known, but it may have been connected with members' differing political affiliations, or with the desire of some of them to gamble more heavily than the rules of 1762 permitted. One of the two successor societies moved to No. 49, Almack's tavern, which was converted into a clubhouse; this club would go on to become
Brooks's
Brooks's is a gentlemen's club in St James's Street, London. It is one of the oldest and most exclusive gentlemen's clubs in the world.
History
In January 1762, a private society was established at 50 Pall Mall by Messrs. Boothby and James ...
. The other successor society remained at No. 50: this was the club that would become Boodle's. Edward Boodle is known to have been in partnership with William Almack, probably between 1764 and 1768. The present Boodle's Club in St. James's Street possesses two manuscript books, each containing a list of rules and names of subscribers, each virtually identical to each other, indicating Boodle to have taken over management of this society from 1764. The rules in Boodle's books are based on those contained in Almack's book dated 1 January 1762, and many of them are copied verbatim. This similarity makes it clear that Boodle's club was either a continuation or an off-shoot under new management and slightly altered rules of the club which Almack had established in January 1762. It met in the house which the latter had occupied from January 1762 to February 1764, i.e., No. 50 Pall Mall, next door to the house (No. 49) which from 1759 to 1764 was Almack's tavern and from 1764 to 1778 housed Almack's club, before its removal under William Brooks to St. James's Street.
The partnership between Almack and Boodle probably came to an end in 1768, for in that year Boodle succeeded Almack as the ratepayer for No. 50, and in March 1768 Boodle is known to have held a sub-lease of the house from Almack. Contemporary references to the club become much more frequent. Edward Gibbon first mentions Boodle's in a letter of 18 April 1768, and he subsequently became a member of the club; starting in December 1769 he wrote much of his correspondence there, and in 1770 he was one of the managers.
Boodle died on 8 February 1772, and on 13 February it was unanimously resolved that 'Ben Harding shall succeed the late Mr. Boodle in the House and Business, and shall be supported therein'. On 22 February the residue of Edward Boodle's lease from Almack was reassigned to Harding. In spite of the change of proprietor the club continued to be known as Boodle's. It left No. 50 in 1783, following which the house was occupied by Messrs. Hammersley and Co. for a number of years, and was subsequently demolished.
Boodle's is regarded as one of the most prestigious clubs in London, and counts many
British aristocrats and notable politicians among its members. It is the second oldest club in the world, with only
White's
White's is a gentlemen's club in St James's, London. Founded in 1693 as a hot chocolate shop in Mayfair, it is London's oldest club and therefore the oldest private members' club in the world. It moved to its current premises on St James's St ...
being older.
Boodle's Orange Fool is a traditional club dish.
Early members were opponents of
William Pitt the Elder
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham (15 November 170811 May 1778) was a British Whig statesman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. Historians call him "Chatham" or "Pitt the Elder" to distinguish him from his son ...
’s foreign policies relating to the
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...
, and political allies of Lord Shelburne.
[City of London: 'Boodle's Club', Exploring the Heritage of Clubland: The Archives of Boodle's ] The club is generally regarded as being aligned with the
Conservative Party, with many of its current and former members holding important positions within the party, although the club is not formally tied to any political party. During the
Regency era
The Regency era of British history is commonly understood as the years between and 1837, although the official regency for which it is named only spanned the years 1811 to 1820. King George III first suffered debilitating illness in the lat ...
, Boodle's became known as the club of the
English gentry, while White's became the club of the nobility. Four members have been awarded the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
and
Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...
was one of the few people to be elected to honorary membership. It is reputed that
Beau Brummell
George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England, and for many years he was the arbiter of British men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King ...
's last bet took place at the Club before he fled the country to France. Today, membership is solely by nomination and election.
In 1782 Boodle's took over the 'Savoir Vivre' clubhouse at 28
St James's Street
St James's Street is the principal street in the district of St James's, central London. It runs from Piccadilly downhill to St James's Palace and Pall Mall. The main gatehouse of the Palace is at the southern end of the road; in the 17th centu ...
, London, and has been located there ever since. The building had been designed by
John Crunden in 1775. The ground floor was refurbished by
John Buonarotti Papworth
John Buonarotti Papworth (24 January 1775 – 16 June 1847) was a British architect, artist and a founder member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
He adopted the middle name "Buonarotti" in around 1815.
As well as being active in ...
between 1821 and 1834.
Notable members
*Thomas Blofeld (1903–1986)
*
Sir John Blofeld (born 1932)
*
Henry Blofeld, OBE (born 1939)
*
Colonel Claud Thomas Bourchier, VC (1831–1877)
*
George "Beau" Bryan Brummell (1778–1840)
*
Colonel John Worthy Chaplin, VC, CB (1840–1920)
*
Sir Winston Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA (1874–1965)
*
William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, KG (1748–1811)
*
Commander Wilfred Albert (Biffy) Dunderdale (1899–1990)
*
Julian Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, DL (b.1949)
*
Ian Lancaster Fleming (1908–1964)
*
Rt. Hon. Charles James Fox, PC (1749–1806)
*
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon (; 8 May 173716 January 1794) was an English essayist, historian, and politician. His most important work, ''The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', published in six volumes between 1776 and 1789, is known for ...
(1737–1794)
*
Andrew R. Hargreaves (born 1955)
*
John Henniker-Major, 8th Baron Henniker
John Patrick Edward Chandos Henniker-Major, 8th Baron Henniker (19 February 1916 – 29 April 2004), known as Sir John Henniker-Major from 1965 to 1980, was a British peer, civil servant, and diplomat.
Early life and military service
Henniker ...
(1916–2004)
*
David Hume
David Hume (; born David Home; – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist who was best known for his highly influential system of empiricism, philosophical scepticism and metaphysical naturalism. Beg ...
(1711–1776)
*
Peter Anthony Inge, Baron Inge (1935–2022), British Army officer and the Chief of the General Staff
*
William Petty-FitzMaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, PC (1737–1805)
*
Charles Lyell, 2nd Baron Lyell, VC (1913–1943)
*
Sir William Miles, 1st Baronet (1797–1878)
*
Sir William Roger Clotworthy Moore, TD, 3rd Baronet (born 1927)
*
James David Graham Niven (1910–1983)
*
Brigadier Rt. Hon. John Profumo CBE (1915–2006)
*
Richard Spring, Baron Risby (born 1946)
*
Adam Smith
Adam Smith (baptised 1723 – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the field of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Seen by some as the "father of economics"——— or ...
(1723–1790)
*
Michael Angelo Taylor (1757–1834)
*
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (1769–1852)
*
John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland, KG, PC (1759–1841)
*
William Wilberforce
William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780 ...
(1759–1833)
*
Frederic Morgan, 5th Baron Tredegar,
JP (1873-1954)
See also
*
List of London's gentlemen's clubs
References
*
H.M. Colvin, ''A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840'' (1997)
Further reading
*
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*
*
*
*
*
External links
www.boodles.orgOfficial Web Site (Member Access Only)
Architectural history, plans, and elevations– from the ''
Survey of London
The Survey of London is a research project to produce a comprehensive architectural survey of central London and its suburbs, or the area formerly administered by the London County Council. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Robert Ashbee, an A ...
'' online
{{Coord, 51, 30, 25, N, 0, 8, 22, W, region:GB_type:landmark, display=title
Regency London
Gentlemen's clubs in London
1762 establishments in England
Organizations established in 1762
Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster
William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne